Purpose

• To outline the methods and reports required in order to know the configuration of the product as it changes through time. In the DOD world, this is called “status accounting.” It is necessary in order to do future troubleshooting, field change analysis, and minimize retrofit costs.

Applicability

• All changes to all products processed by this CM function.

Policy/Practice

• The configuration of the product will be available to all who need to know in three views: by change number, part number/parts list and by product.
• The “report” for the “by change number” view will be the change order form itself. The actual effectivity (SN – or whatever – on non-interchangeable and date on interchangeable changes) shall be entered into the change form for status reporting/troubleshooting purposes.
• The bill of material structure file is also a tool for tracing/status reporting for all parts list changes (interchangeable and non-interchangeable). The bill contains the current “as built” configuration and the “as planned” (as designed) configuration for any change wherein the future effective date feature is used.
• The revision block of an item’s drawing or specification is a form of tracing/status accounting. The revision history must be kept for all changes. If the drawing is redrawn or the revision block truncated, the history must be kept in the “earlier” revision level document for tracking/troubleshooting purposes.
• The “description of change” in the revision block of all drawings and specifications must show the key words describing the change (as opposed to “See ECO”). This will aid engineers in future troubleshooting efforts.
• The bill of material item master file will also contain all non-parts list changes by part number and revision level. Entered by CM.
• Other configuration status reports may be added as required by your kind of business and your regulators and for your warrantee purposes. The “report writing” feature of your system might be able to produce such reports.

Procedure

• None required.

Primary Responsibility

• The manager of CM shall maintain this standard in current condition.

Authorization